Proportional water-meter



(No Model.)

J. THOMSON. PROPORTIONAL WATER METER.

No. 535,642. Patented Mar. 12 1895" 'NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN THOMSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON HYDRAULIC COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

PRO PORTIONAL; WATER-M ETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,642, dated March 12, 1895. Application filed January 1'7, 1893. Renewed April 23, 1894. Serial No. 508,718- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Proportional Water-Meters, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to proportional water meters and'it has for its object to improve and simplify the construction, arrangement and mode of operation of such meters, and it has particularly for its object to provide a meter in which the registering mechanism is operated by the combined effect of pressure and induction.

To these ends my invention consists in the method of operation and the means herein set forth substantially as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1, is a part vertical center section and elevation. Fig. 2, is a top plan view, the registering device being removed.

In carrying out my invention many and various devices may be employed, and they need not be fully set forth, as they will be understood by those skilled in the art, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to any particular construction by which the method of op-' eration may be utilized, nor do I limit myself to the exact details of construction in order to carry out the mechanical features of my invention hereinafter described, but I will proceed to set forth the construction, arrangement and mode of operation of the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The registering device A is suitably con-' nected to the main casing B, which in this instance is shown substantially cylindrical in form by any suitable means as the threaded bosses 5, 6. This registering device may be of any well known form, but preferably it should be some compact type of meter having a low frictional resistance, such for example as are known as disk meters, and shown for instance in my 'Patents Nos. 47 6,102 and 47 6,103, and I have not deemed it necessary 50 to illustrate all the details of this construction, as they are well known and have no material bearing on the present invention.

The main casing is provided with an internal support, such for instance as the central rib or ring 7, in which is mounted a converging tube or nozzle 9, it beingsecured in any suitable way, as by the screws 8, and having a flaring end presenting toward the inlet chamber 0 of the main casing. I The converging end of the nozzle preferably extends beyond and behind the central rib, and the edges both at the inlet and outlet portion of the nozzle are preferably sharp for purposes hereinafter set forth. Also suitably mounted within the main casing B, is a conical tube 12, its flaring end presenting toward the outlet chamber D of the main casing, and this is shown as supported upon one or more rings 10, extending into the casing and forming a substantial bearing for the conical tube. These tubes, the converging tube 9 and the conical tube 12, together form an induction nozzle, the induced flow being from the chamber H in the main casing intermediate the two tubes, the direction of the induced flow being indicated by the arrows 13.

The applicationof the apparatus and conditions so far described for the purpose of a proportional water meter are as follows: The inlet chamber P of the registering device is preferably connected by the largest area possible to the inlet chamber 0 of the main casing, while the outlet chamber R of the registering device is connected by a port 14 to the intermediate or induction chamber II. The effect of any direct flow through the converging tube or inlet nozzle 9 is to produce greater pressure in chamber P than in chamber D, and also to produce more or less of a vacuum or tendency to avacuum in chamber H. The extent of this depends upon many considerations, and may be varied, but I have found in practice that the best results are obtained by making the port let, so as to be proportionately considerably less in area than the outlet afforded by the annular space 15 between the nozzles, as in this wise the discharge from the chamber R of the meter mechanism is virtually as if into free space, the port 14 acting to throttle and control the delivery into the vacuum chamber H. As beforeintimated the converging or inlet tube 9, is carried well out into the inlet chamber 0 of the main casing, and is preferably finished to a sharp edge, the object of which is to deliver the inflowing water to the annular space S, beneath the inlet chamber P of the meter under conditions of flow practically constant, and at a relatively low velocity. The inner exterior surface 16 of the converging or inlet tube is also made tapering, so that by adjusting the relative position of the two tubes, indicated by dotted lines, the degree or intensity of the inductive effect may be governed, and this is of great convenience in calibrating the register of the meter. In order that this may be done, it is necessary that the conical tube 12 be made adjustable in its bearings, and as a convenient means, I have shown an eccentric, stud 17, passing through the case and engaging a slot 18 in the nozzle, by the turning of which, said nozzle may be slid back and forth in its bearings, and the stud maybe locked by any convenient means, as by the screw 19 and interposed washer 20, so that the nozzle will be held firmly against the thrust of the flowing water.

The form of the tubes may vary, but they are preferably of such shape, and are laid out on the well known lines commonly credited to Venturiand Weisbach. I preferably make the port 14 with a sharp definite edge on its inlet side, as its discharging capacity into the free space of chamber I-I, may thus be more definitely predicted.

With this arrangement of devices for carrying out my invention, it will be seen that several advantages follow. Thus the axis of the tube being directly in the center of the pipe, receives the, water flowing at greatest velocity. Hence all particles of foreign matter pass straight through the tube. Any obstruction meeting the meter mechanism tending to interfere with its movement, acts as a valve to intercept the flow through port 14, and to increase thepressure in chamber 0. Hence the meter is immediately acted upon by increase of pressure on the one side, and vacuum on the other. Moreover, the device may be adapted to any normal size of meter working under different conditions. Thus, for instance, if a four inch meter is to deliver at a fairly uniform rate not exceeding fifty cubic feet a minute, then by a ready adaptation of the area of the port 14, the proportion passing through the registering mechanism, may be as one to fifteen, or the registering mechanism may be operated at a lower rate, and the area of the nozzle increased. So, too if the delivery were to be atsay one hundred cubic feet a minute by the simple and ready means shown, the registering mechanism might still be operated well within a safe working rate, the ratio being increased to say one to thirty. Another advantage of great practical value is that by simply temporarily plugging the inlet nozzle, the registering mechanism may-be tested for accuracy without disconnecting it from the main casing.

From the above it will be seen that I have set forth one embodiment of my invention showing means whereby the method of operation may be accomplished and the parts are arranged so as to be adjustable for various conditions, and at the same time they are simple, cheap and effective, and not liable to get out of order.

What I claim is- 1. In a proportional water meter, the combination with the main casing and registering device connected thereto; of an induction nozzle mounted in the main casing to produce suction in a separate chamber of the main casing, and a port proportioned to throttle the flow of water from the registering device into the said chamber; substantially as described.

2. In a proportional water meter, the combination with the main casing and registering device connected thereto; of an induction nozzle mounted in the main casing, a port, connecting the registering device with the casing, the said port being of less area than the area of the discharge through the induction nozzle; substantially as described.

3. In a proportional water meter the combination with the main casing and the registering device connected thereto, of an induction nozzle comprising a converging tube, and a conical tube capable of being adj ustably ar ranged with relation to each other, substantially as described.

4:. In a proportional water meter the combination with the main casing and the registering device connected thereto, of an induction nozzle comprising a converging tube fixedly supported in the central position, and aconical diverging tube adjustably mounted in the main casing and means for securing it in position, substantially as described.

5. In a proportional Water meter the combination with the main casing and the registering device connected thereto, of a converging tube having a flaring end presenting toward the inlet chamber, and provided with a sharp edge, a discharge end, the exterior surface of which is tapering, substantially as described.

6. In a proportional Water meter the combination withthe main casing and the registerin g device connected thereto, of a converging tube and a conical tube, the adjacent edges of the tubes being tapering, substantially as described.

7. In a proportional water meter the combination with the main casing, of a centralpartition provided with a converging tube, a re istering mechanism connected to the main casing and having its inlets, and outlets on either side of the partition, a conical tube mounted in the main casing, the main casing thereby being formed with an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and an intermediate chamber, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination with the main casing In testimony whereof I have signed my and. the registering casing communicating name to this specification in the presence of therewith, of a nozzle arranged in the casing two subscribing wltnesses.

flaring at the rear, contracted at the front JOHN THOMSON. 5 and surrounded by an exhaust chamber com- WVitnesses:

municating with the discharge outlet of the JOHN MOKINNON,

registering casing, substantially as described. MEYER KRASNEB. 

